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"Will change your life for the better"

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More than just a toaster - this baby changed my life

There are many things in this world that one can get passionate about. A helicopter flight over the grand canyon; a midnight desert treck on camel across the Sahara; swimming with Shamu - everyone's favourite Killer Whale. I've not done any of these things, but I am certain that, having imagined doing all of the above, and having now owned, and enjoyed this product for the last 4 weeks, the experience I have lived since buying this toaster must surely ranks alongside - or even surpass, any of the above experiences.

This humble toaster has, quite simply, revolutionised the act (or art) or making toast. Gone are the days of burnt toast. Gone are the days of toast that looks good, and toasts crap. Gone are the days of toast popping up and out at a moment when it is least expected or wanted. This baby cooks toast to perfection, and it does it with a style and - dare I say, a 'swagger' that other toasters can only look upon with envy.

With it's sleek look and chromed finish, this beauty oozes class, and perhaps even a little sex appeal. Imagine if you will the first time a friend walked into my home and caught a glimpse of Tattiana (that's the name we have given her) sitting there next to the breadmaker, luring her over with a look that simply says ..."Fill me .... NOW". I won't even tell you what I caught my friend Mike doing with her when he stayed over one evening (he'd got up for a "midnight snack" apparently). It's reached a point now where we daren't have her on display anymore when people come to visit. It's just wrong.

It's .... dirty.

To sum it up, all I can say is that I never thought I would envy a simple slice of bread...

...I was wrong

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Expensive but you get what you pay for

When we were considering this item, the thing I could not help come back to was what the real purpose of it was. Let's be clear about this, if it is just for when you want some toast from time to time at home, then this may well be overkill. There are many toasters out there that are much much cheap. There are some that look quite stylish in their own was and are still cheaper.However if you have a large family and enjoy making toast as a main part of your regular breakfast, then this does start to make a bit more sense. The variability of the thickness is ideal for the irregular width of home made and home cut bread (I've never been able to produce regimented same-sized slices!).Being able to do four slices at a time is really useful too. I would imagine this would be a good buy for a B&B too for this reason.If you have the spare money and want a stylish looking well designed item, then this is right for you. It will be making toast longer after the cheaper ones have been binned!

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A brilliant quality toaster that comes at a price

We have had this toaster for many years now and it is still as great as ever. It is a very robust piece of equipment made from the best materials, and so it does come at a price. I will be reviewing the Dualit 47180 4 Slice NewGen toaster, which is different to the one pictured here.

*Design*

The toaster is available in many colours, chrome being the original. Other colours give a lovely contrast between the chrome front and the sides, which can be pink, purple, green, yellow, black, cyan, cream, gray and more. Choosing your colour means you can make the toaster look brilliant in any kitchen. The colours are very vivid too, painted onto good quality aluminium casing.

The toaster has four slots for slices of bread or even bagels, each 28mm wide. This is quite wide but it will hold all size slices that fits, as the tray it enters will grip the slice as you lower it into the toaster. There is a lever on the front at the bottom, which is pulled to lower the slices into the machine. This is a great feature as you can wait until you are ready to get your slices before using the lever to push them back up. This way, your slices won't get cold by automatically popping up if you are not ready. There are two control panels - one is a dial, which measures time in minutes. The other is settings depending on what you want toasted. You can heat certain slots at a time and even toast one side of a slice, which is great for bagels.

Underneath is a crumb tray, which pulls out the front. This collects all the crumbs pretty well and is easy to empty and wash. There are also four little feet, which are actually adjustable so that you can sit your toaster flat even on a slightly uneven surface.

The quality of materials used is superb and you will not find better in a toaster. They are handmade in the UK so we were told, and the aluminium casing in conjunction with the 'ProHeat elements' in the slots are of great quality and long-lasting.

*Toasting*

Perfectly toasted bread, bagels and crumpets can be expected with this toaster once you get the timing right! The options enable for specific toasting - you can do one side and you can activate only one slot or two/three/four slots at a time, which can save electricity. The only way to tell that your toast is ready is that the timer reaches the end and there is a rather loud click. Apart from this, the toast does not pop up so sometimes it can be difficult to realise it has finished if you are busy across the kitchen. It would be better if a louder mechanism was put into place when the timer is up such as a bell. As for when the slices are toasting, you can hear a winding noise from the mechanical timer going round. This means it produces a constant although quiet noise when on, which some people may not like.

*Price & Availability*

This toaster costs quite a lot, currently at around £172 on Amazon. This is bit cheaper than the usual price mark at around £195 to £200. This is a lot of money to dish out for a toaster but it is of superb quality, looks great and is sure to last years.

*Summary*

The Dualit range is excellent and this toaster is in keeping with this. It has a lovely handmade design of the most premium materials, available in an array of vivid colours (besides the not so vivid chrome). It works perfectly and the settings enable you to do what you want without wasting electricity. It is easy to maintain too. Although pricey, I would recommend it for the longterm - ideal if you have just got a new kitchen fitted out!

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A beautiful machine that will give you perfect toast for years and years

I bought my Dualit 4 slice toaster more than 12 years ago to service my growing family. Admittedly the price was a bit steep, but a combination of favourable reviews and the stylish design won me over. My family has used it almost daily during that time and it has never once let me down, unlike the cheaper models that I purchased previously.

It works in much the same way that other toasters do - you put the bread in the slot, then pull a lever down to lower it into the machine and activate the elements. The timer knob on the front dictates the colour of the toast and, rather than popping it out when its finished, the toast remains in the machine thereby keeping it warmer for longer.

Other plus points include the slot selector switch which enables you to choose the number of slices you wish to toast at any one time and the removable crumb tray that pulls out to allow easy disposal of stray crumbs - no need to stand over the bin shaking the toaster upside down. The slots are generous in size so thick slices of bread, bagels, crumpets and tea cakes can be accommodated and everything ends up with an even toast. It is also possible to purchase a cage like structure that fits into the slots to produce toasted sandwiches. I havent got one personally but they do look tempting and only cost around £13. I have used toaster bags in my Dualit and they worked well.

I personally wouldnt want to be without my Dualit toaster and should it ever die, I will be replacing it as soon as possible with another.

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Toast heaven.

The Dualit four slice toaster is by far and away the best toaster I have ever owned, it toasts beautifully and I swear that the toast even tastes better! It's great that you can select the amount of slices you are going to toast and how long to toast them. It has a little handle to pop the toast up if you need to check it while it's cooking. I've also had this toaster on my kitchen unit under a wall mounted cupboard and there are no scorch marks on the unit at all - not like the cheap toasters I had before this one.

The sandwich toaster baskets that come with it (mine came with two) just make the most delicious toasties, super crispy on the outside and lovely and soft on the inside. Just be careful not to over stuff the toastie with too much cheese as it will all dribble out into the bottom of the toaster! I know, I know it's hard not to.....

My only complaint is that the chrome version gets dirty quite quickly, if I'd realised this then I would have chosen a brightly coloured one.

You get what you pay for - this id definitely worth every penny!

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the brand and the quality is well worth the price

Dualit toasters are stylish and sexy. With a mirrored and cream style they can suit any kitchen big or small or modern or tired. We recently upgraded our dualit from the 2 slice version to the 4 slice version due to our greater needs and the amount of bread that we eat and the lack of patience that we have! Dualit are the original of these style toasters, and although other companies that i could name try to copy there style, they just dont quite meet the same quality. Unlike some, the crumb tray is solid and not flimsy and rather than spilling crumbs everywhere it makes for an easy emptying process. The slots of a Dualit and tall and wide rather than other brands which are just about suited for the smaller slices that Warburtons offer for example. Also unlike other brands a Dualit doesnt throw your toast up in there air when it is ready. It does not have the spring effect and instead just countdowns using the timer when the heaters switch off, and then keeps the bread in the toaster for it to stay warm rather than other toasters that pop it and then let it go cold so your butter doesnt melt. These are expensive but as far as im concerned, if other brands are making efforts to copy their style then even they must want one!! Besides, if you are savvy and buy one during a debenhams 25% off event or an argos sale then you should get better value for money.

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This Dualit 4 slice toaster is the best I have had after trying several and different aspects bugging me of each one. It's sturdy, cooks evenly, has a reassuring click when toast is cooked. It comes with a sandwich clamp which enables you to put a sandwich in and toast it, even melting cheese. You can select to use one, two or four slices so it is also energy efficient. Was pleased too to see the variety of colours it came in. It looks very stylish which is handy when it is on the side all the time and it is easy to clean. The crumb tray helps to keep work surfaces clean and the lever helps to check the toast during cooking without stopping the cooking process. A real star buy and investment!

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Dualit have the worst customer service of any company - waste of a bunch of money.

We've had a nightmare with Dualit from beginning to end with this toaster and I wouldn't, in a million years, recommend anyone to buy from this company.

It all started 15 years ago when I used to be a nanny for a family who had a version of this toaster. I loved this toaster. I loved it's design and it's cool functions. When I became a grown up, I really wanted this toaster - I knew it was a silly amount of money to spend on something which essentially does nothing but make toast - but I bought into the look - and spent the money on the toaster.

4 years ago I became the proud owner of my very own Dualit 4-slice. About 2 weeks after I got the toaster, I had to take it back to the shop because the timer dial wasn't working. The toaster was repaired and sent back, no problems.

The problems started 1 year ago when, for some reason, the one-slice-slot (the slot you use when you're only making one slice) stopped working on one side. Apparently this is a common problem. So I took it back (still covered under warranty) and it was sent back to Dualit who sent the toaster back several weeks later with a note saying it was repaired. I got the toaster home, plugged it in and low and behold, the toaster was still suffering under the same fault as before. I then took the toaster back to the shop, it was sent back to Dualit and the toaster was returned, again, to me several weeks later with a note saying no fault found. The toaster still was not working.

At this point, I contacted Dualit directly. The customer services manager implied that I was making up that the toaster was not working correctly and said there was nothing more they could do if the engineers were saying that no fault was found. After a very long time on the phone, I finally convinced the person at Dualit to look at the toaster himself, actually put a slice of bread in the toaster and see whether he thought it worked. They sent a courier to collect the toaster and about a week later I got a call from the customer services manager at Dualit saying that it was true indeed, the toaster was not making toast properly (one side gets toasted, the other doesn't). He then guaranteed me that the repair would be done and the toaster was returned to me. Of course, when the toaster arrived back at my house, IT WAS STILL NOT WORKING! So I called Dualit again and, after another very long phone call, the customer services manager told me that they weren't willing to try to repair the toaster anymore, and that I would have to go back to the retailer to have them sort it out. His basic gist was that Dualit were washing their hands of the problem.

I can't believe, that for a £170 toaster, Dualit doesn't care more about customer service and customer satisfaction. This is supposed to be a toaster for life - all of the parts are fully replaceable and fully repairable. Dualit says it costs a lot because it is going to last forever. So, how can they explain the fact that when they couldn't fix the toaster, they washed their hands of it. I wouldn't buy this toaster again if I had a choice. I'd buy a cheaper toaster - in fact, if I spent £10 on a value toaster I'd probably get better toast - and imagine how many value toasters you could buy for £170! I hope that in reading this review at least one person decides not to buy this toaster - if it's customer service you want - go elsewhere - if it's a reliable toaster you want - go elsewhere - if it's toast you want - I'd buy something else.

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Looks great and lasts 'forever'.

When I originally bought this for the wife, I thought that it was hideously expensive and perhaps far over-rated. After all, it's only a toaster. But having now owned it for the last 5 years and used it on almost a daily basis, I wouldn't have anything else.

The main thing is that when you look at it now after all this time, it still looks new. The chrome finish is still shiny and bright. You still have all the decals and detail on the timer switch, and that little lever on the front to raise and lower your bread into the toaster still works as smooth as ever. The little tray at the bottom still works smoothly and collects any crumbs that fall. All of the heating elements still work and each and every time we use it, we still get an even toasting on both sides of each bread slice, right across the both surfaces from crust to crust.

Cheaper toasters I've had in the past have often 'given up the ghost' after a couple of years of use in our household. But this one just keeps going on and on - begging you to feed it some more bread to toast because you so want another slice.

If ever proof is needed that you get what you pay for, this is it. A fantastic toaster all round that I may well be passing onto my grand-children.

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The king of the kitchen!

I've had one of these for quite a while now and it's proved to be a superb toaster. It's certainly not the cheapest one you can buy, but if you're looking for a long-lasting and quality toaster then this is the one to go for! You shouldn't have any fires, any breakages or any trouble using it.

The toaster is stainless steel, and it really is. Unlike other items it doesn't get totally ruined, but after a long time you may see a few marks and even scratches appearing if you don't take care of it! A good old polish every now and then, maybe even with window cleaner will keep it shining.

The toaster costs a whopping £173.36 on Amazon.co.uk at the moment - it ain't cheap! The toaster has 4 slots so it's quite powerful in that sense - shouldn't be much anger in the morning about who's toast can go in next. You can't speed up a toaster though, and it marks the optimum time for toasting on the timer wheel at just under two minutes. Just above this black wheel is one to choose how many slices you are doing at once. The toaster works from left to right, so if you select two slices, then the left two will be on.

The problem with this is that there isn't an option for 3 slices! Quite an odd number (although considered lucky) but what if you only want one and your partner wants 2? What if you are making 1 each for your 3 children? It just doesn't work! Well it does, you just have to select all 4 ports - so no money saving here. This is what's good though - you can do just one slice alone and it will only heat up the far left port. You can also choose two or four slices.

There is a black handle on the front side of the toaster towards the bottom, which is used to lower the toast in. The toaster only goes on once its obviously plugged in and the timer is set. You will then hear a clicking noise as it goes round before there is a click and the toast is ready. The good thing about the handle being independent of the toasting process is that you can raise the tray up when you want so the toast is kept warm - maybe someone's late down for breakfast, or you just want to keep it hot so the butter melts on it when it's time comes, whilst buttering your other slice!

Just below this nifty handle is a tray with two black handles to pull it out. This is where all your crumbs will fall to from all 4 ports. It's a great idea as some toasters have no real way of emptying them from crumbs! This means the toaster won't get clogged up at all and will always work well without mess in the way. This is very easy to clean out - just empty the crumbs and once again give it a wipe with some window cleaner perhaps as it's stainless steel too and this gives it a real shine (not like you can see inside the tray when it's packed away under the toaster).

On the right hand side of the toaster are some vents along with the Dualit logo just below. The whole design is very modern but you'll find it's quite a large toaster and sits there as if it's the king of the kitchen! Well at the price of around £170, it may well be unless you've got one of them fridges with drink machines and all the rest!

The good thing about the toaster is the wide 2.8cm slots. This means that you can't just fit slices of bread in, but even burger buns and bagels if you're lucky. This is what adds to the bulkiness, but it also adds to the opportunities! Nothing will fall out though as each slot has a tray inside that lifts the contents up and down (with use of the handle), which has a sturdy bottom. This toaster is made from heavy duty steel and it's built to the best quality you'll ever find. It's like some kind of bomb - you wouldn't be getting this through security at any airport without a good look at what it is!

It all sounds a bit too much with it's size and mighty slots, but it actually sits really nicely in our kitchen on the marble surfaces. Due to it's contemporary design, I'd say it would suit any kitchen really well (as long as your kitchen isn't dating back from the 1800s) but even then it may look like some kind of cool retro appliance!

So in conclusion I think this has to be the best toaster on the market - I mean it cost enough. It's like a really excellent gadget but pure quality made of excellent materials. Every knob and handle has remained in position without breaking whatsoever. The condition has remained good but not mint - it needs some care to prevent it from being marked and scratched! The tray enables you to easily collect and clean out all crumbs without destroying the toaster and it toasts bread perfectly without burning it, with a very accurate timer that has a suggested marker on it! It comes in at a heavy price, but what do you expect? It's a heavy-duty toaster.

Thanks for reading!

:)

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Worth the money

After getting over spending £130 on a toaster, I purchased one. I could not wait to get some bread in it to make some toast. 1 minute and 45 seconds it took to produce golden toast, twice as fast as my other - cheaper toasters. Very impressed. Because it toasts so much faster, it does not dry out the centre of the toast, instead it leaves the toast with a delicate crunchy outer, and fluffy, moist inner. The element does not glow like other toasters, but all the energy is put into raw heat. The heating element is wound close together, unlike the cheaper ones which are spread apart. I have the three slice toaster which has a three way selector to make one, two or three slices, and so energy efficient. Its a little weird at first using this as you wind a mechanical timer each time to the setting you require, which is actually really easy to use after a few goes. It's nice to have it all manual as it makes you feel in total control. I love the way you can lift the toast while cooking, without turning off the heaters, allowing you to monitor the level of toasting, but I find set at 2 is perfect every time. Because there are no hot spots on the elements, the toast comes out evenly toasted. Overall, it just fells like a quality toaster, nothing tinny anywhere, very solid. Worth paying the extra, because no other toaster produces toast as light (and hot) as this one. The toast from my old toaster cooled very quickly, but bizarrely, toast from this toaster stayed hot on my plate for longer. Weird. Very much recommended for those who want the best, not the cheapest toaster? Worth every penny

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The best toaster you can buy - quality, reliable and easy to use

The Dualit toaster is known to be the best one on the market, and I am pleased to say that mine has lived up to its expectations. It toasts bread very well and is not one of those cheap toasters that will blow up on you when you least expect it. It's very reliable, simple and looks fantastic.

The toaster is made from stainless steel, which looks super in any modern kitchen. It doesn't corrode and ours is still in the same condition as years ago when we bought it. It's an excellent product that has lasted, so despite the price tag of under £140.00 on amazon.co.uk, I would highly recommend one! They are built to last and have a wonderful design too.

The toaster is put together on this steel body with visible screws - it looks like a very strong and sturdy product, which it is. On the front is the Dualit logo engraved into the toaster. Beneath is a handle used to lift the toast up and put the bread down. The handle is black and contrasts nicely with the steel finish along with the black dial. The dial has numbers on it, which signify the minutes your bread will be toasted for. This is great as you can actually choose how long you want it done for rather than using arbitrary numbers or unknown arbitrary times.

On the black dial is a small triangle pointing to the recommended time. This is really useful as depending on how you like your toast; you can adjust the time around this suggestion. When I am toasting bread from frozen, it takes just above the recommended time, but if the bread is not frozen, I do it for a little shorter than the recommended time. The recommended time with unfrozen bread gives a very crunchy toast, but I don't like mine as crunchy. The dial slowly turns round, making a noise before it gets to the end and there's a click. You manually lift the handle to raise your toast so it can be taken out with care.

At the bottom of the toaster is a tray, which collects all breadcrumbs and any dirt. It's a really useful feature as it is easily slid out so you can empty the crumbs into a bin. It lies directly below the 4 slice holes so all crumbs will be collected.

The toaster has a very compact design and looks great in our kitchen. It's extremely reliable and well worth buying, as it will last you a lifetime, as it seems! It toasts bread to perfection and has never malfunctioned and burnt bread or set on fire. It's very easy to use and is made of top quality materials to make it long lasting. I would highly recommend one of these.

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One of the best toasters you can buy, which is reliable and easy to use for rushed mornings

I have had this toaster for ages and it is of excellent quality. Made by Dualit, it is from a leading producer of kitchen-ware that is reliable and well-built. This toaster has lasted me a couple of years now and I am sure it will keep toasting that bread for years to come!

At around £170, it isn´t exactly cheap. However, it is very reliable, very well built and accurate in timing too. It is simple to use but does a really good job. It looks quite simple. It has 4 slots in the top for the bread to go in. The Dualit logo is on the front and on one side. The toaster seems to be made out of aluminum or some shiny metal.

Just on the bottom of the front is the handle for the toast. You pull this down to eject each and every toast and you push it upwards to drop the bread down. It is directly linked to all four slots and works reliably. On the right is a timer. It is black with white numbers indicating the number of minutes and an arrow shows the recommended time of around 2 minutes. I normally set it to this arrow and it toasts bread perfectly.

The bottom of the toaster has good grip with several parts to stop it slipping. The only problem I have had with this toaster is the way the metal outside seems to rust and get brown marks on it. This may be due to getting splashed when too close to the sink, so keep it away. However, it is nice and shiny when new and should stay like that for a good few months. It is hard to clean as it gets marked quite easily even by the cleaning material. It is best to use J Cloths on it and a proper metal cleaning material. If not, I find window cleaner works better than anything else on it.

The other useful thing about this toaster is the crumb-tray that simply slides out underneath the toaster. There is a little handle just below the large handle, which you pull outwards to take the crumb-tray out. You simply empty it in the bin, can give it a wash and slide it back underneath to collect the crumbs. The crumbs cannot go anywhere else and mess up the toaster, so this tray is effective in collecting all the crumbs.

As for the toast - what can I say? Toast is toast, but this toaster makes great toast! The timing is very accurate and the recommended time on the timer gives you a perfect slice of toast. I have never had any of those classic problems that you get with toasters with this one such as smoke coming out, bread getting burnt into black ash or anything else. It is extremely reliable and safe too. I would highly recommend this toaster if you are looking for a long-lasting and good quality toaster.

Thanks for reading!

- Recon -

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beautiful, reliable, expensive

A thing of beauty for your kitchen - built to industrial standards it should also last you a lifetime - however beauty and build cost big time and this item is a true designer lable - the gucci of the appliance world. I would recommend this one for your wedding list if you have generous relatives. Its performance with regards to toast is immpecable, it is extremly adjustable, all the way from black as charcole to, well, warm bread to be honest. Another thing worth mentioning is that the Dualit is NOT a pop up toaster, it have a pleasingly old fashioned lever. If you have the money i would highly recommend one, if you are on a budget i would say for now go and get a cheap one from asda for ten pounds and save up.

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The perfect combination of style and common sense - at a price!

What better way is there to start the day than with a nice slice of fresh toast and jam? During the Summer, I've been more inclined to go for juice or fruit but as the Winter draw in (sigh) and we all have to get used to getting up in the dark, we'll be turning to the "comfort" things again. Well, I certainly will anyway.

You can get toasters for £7. They toast the bread. They work. 'Nuff said. But they look crap, last about a week and end up with a toasting technique that more closely resembles patchy sunburn. You get what you pay for - and I got a top of the range, stylish kitchen toy that is the envy of anyone who shares breakfast with me.

Style Icon

The Dualit toaster has become a 20th / 21st century style icon. In all those "so cool" American sit-coms, the flat sharers have Dualit toasters. In murder mysteries where cool young professionals are stabbed to death in the kitchen, their blood spatters onto a highly polished Dualit toaster. I think they're absolutely beautiful and the only real surprise was that I didn't buy one sooner than I did. The design is timeless, kind of like 60s retro - they look like they've been stolen from an American diner. There are no harsh edges. Everything is smooth, curved and shiny, like a jukebox that serves toasted bread. The design revolves around simplicity and durability and the appeal goes across every age group. My gran loves them - she's had one for about fifteen hundred years - and everyone I know thinks they're cool.

Overview of Features

This Dualit (it's one of a considerable range) has four toasting slots. Each slot is extra wide, which means that you can toast thinly sliced bread or enormous wedges of crusty bread. It also means that you can toast crumpets, tea cakes or crumpets. A dial on the right-hand side enables you to change the heating setting so that you can toast one, two, three or four slices and the elements adapt themselves accordingly. I've never seen another toaster that could do that. A second dial enables you to set the timer for the amount of time you require your bread to toasted for. The dial has three main settings but can simply be set to start toasting anywhere between the scale of 0 and maximum. This is because the dial is like a wind-up toy - turn the dial clockwise to the correct setting and then it turns itself anti-clockwise to count through the time. It's hugely versatile. You can experiment and find a setting that suits you perfectly. You aren't bound by fixed intervals and of course, at a glance, you can see how long is left. In fact, you don't even need a glance, because as the dial rotates the noise gradually changes pitch such that you know when it's about to stop. Perfect.

The slots are operated using a lever at the front of the toaster. With it's fairly clunky knob, it's dead easy to use. Push it down and the slots tip up so that you can pick up your toast. Pull it up and the slots tip down again. The element will not become operational until you set the timer, so if you put the bread in and pull the lever up, the toasting won't start until you're ready. When it's finished I'm afraid there are no comedy moments as the toast pops out either. The dial simply clicks back to the start position and the element turns off - your bread remains snugly in the slots until you push down the lever. This, of course, means that you can keep your toast warm for a few seconds whilst you get the butter out of the fridge.

I've yet to find a toaster that is actually difficult to use, but this one really is simplicity itself, without compromising on your ability to have the toast "just how you like it". Have you ever tried using one of the "defrost" or "toast from frozen" settings on cheaper toasters? They're a bit hit and miss, largely due to whether the toaster is warmed up or not, how thick the bread is and what day of the week it is. The Dualit keeps things simple - you tell the toaster how toasted you want the bread to be. Keep raising the bread out and checking if you're not sure - that's another bonus of the Dualit, because it doesn't work on set programmes. You can use the lever to lift the bread in and out as many times as you like without halting a set programme.

It's simply the best way to toast bread!

Keeping Clean and Safe

All that stainless steal is a nightmare, if you want your Dualit to stay in tip top condition. The fact of the matter is that you have to treat it like the crown jewels! Keep sharp objects away that could dent or scratch it. Keep sticky fingers away that could mark it. You could argue that the Dualit isn't really suitable for a family with children because it would probably get battered and scratched in no time at all. Indeed, after a while, you find yourself becoming obsessive about keeping crumbs off it and polishing it every time you use it. I don't care! If you've got nice things, why not keep them that way?

The crumb tray is, quite feasibly, the best crumb tray that you will ever find. For a start, it actually captures all the crumbs. Use the Dualit, then slide it forwards if you want the evidence - you simply won't find any crumbs. One of the reasons for this is that the tray is the same size as the base of the toaster. That means that it is pretty likely to capture any little bits of bread that fall in its direction. It's also designed so that you don't scatter the bits everywhere when you take it out to empty it. Two small, black grips on either side mean that it can be carefully and easily slid out from the toaster and then competently carried to the sink or the bin to empty it out. It's dead easy. I once had a toaster, for which the crumb tray was like a thin metal strip that could only ever hope to capture about 25% of the crumbs.

The toaster comes with special elements that need to be conditioned when you first buy the item. This simply means you turn it on with nothing in it for three minutes. It's a bit like charging a phone for the first time - make sure you do it if you want the toaster to last! It's also important to supervise little people. The top can get quite hot - although the main exterior doesn't as, obviously, it is insulated from the interior. Any toaster is a hazard for people poking things in - the size of the slot on this one increases the risk of things FALLING in too - so be careful!

Other Stuff

You can use it to toast sandwiches too - you get these little cages that are basically little baskets that suspend in one of the slots and then toast the contents. I must admit, this is not something that I've tried I would only really do something like cheese on toast and would want this under the grill. I'm assured, however, that they work quite well.

The toaster comes with a one-year guarantee as standard - I was surprised it wasn't longer because Dualit is renowned for its reliability. Most cafes or canteens swear by them because they last for years and years. As you would probably expect, I've had no problems with mine - and don't expect to - but a longer road test might be required as I'm only just coming up to one year.

Price and Availability

Could you justify £170 for a toaster? I did and I don't regret a penny of it. The Duality looks fantastic and performs so well, that I'm pretty sure that I certainly won't be needing to replace it for many years. Clearly, it's far higher than anything else on the market but you do get what you pay for. Look around online for some slightly cheaper prices - but not much - and look in John Lewis or Selfridges on the high street if you want one now.

Verdict

Fantastic - I love it! This is a perfect combination of style and common sense. The price is high but so are the standards. Get one - you won't regret it!

Highly recommended

Comments

Product Details

The slots are 28 mm wide with self-adjusting wire guards to automatically accommodate a broad range of bread thicknesses / The slots also support the separately available sandwich cage, which is a useful addition for making toasted sandwiches, buns and crumpets, though it is possible to toast the latter without a cage.